Window fastener



June 25, 1946. I B. A QUINN 2,402,772

WINDOW FASTENER Filed Dec. 51, 1943 Patented June 25, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDOW FASTENER Bert A. Quinn, strain Park, Minn.

Application December 31, 1943, Serial No. 516,334

3 Claims. (01. 292-263) My invention relates to an improvement in window fastener, wherein it is desired to provide a fastener for removably supporting storm windows, or-the like, in adjusted relationship.

A feature of the present invention resides in the angular formation of the arms forming the fastener. -Window brackets have previously been constructed employing two pivoted arms, right angular in cross section. In these previous cnstructions, however, one flange of the right angu1ar=arms has terminated in spaced relation to the ends of the .arm. Therefore, while the central portion of the arms have been reinforced to prevent bending thereof, these arms may bend relatively easily near the ends thereof.

" ItiiS afeature of thepresent invention that the arms are provided with a flange arranged at right angles thereto, extending throughout the major portion of the length of-the arms, and the ends of this flange are connected along curved surfaces to the bodies of the arm. Thus the arms are rendered much stronger than in previous constructions with which I am familiar.

A further feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a spacing means which tends to hold the arms slightly separated when pivoted into adjacent parallel relationship. Difficulty has previously been experienced with brackets employing two pivotally connected arms,

due to the expansion and contraction of the window and its frame. If the bracket is attached tothe window in dry weather. the arms of the bracket often bind in damp weather due to the swelling of thewindow and window frame. By providing a means for holding the arms in spaced relationship, these arms are held separated durl ingthe'attachment thereof and are prevented from binding in the event the window and frame swell with moisture. --A:further feature of the present invention lies inxthe provision of anear projecting from one of ing one 'of the arms, to the Window or window fra-mea In the past stile plates have been provided with pivot pins riveted'or otherwise, affixed thereto to'which the arms may be pivoted. Such arm s-require. considerable labor to construct and assemble. The present invention embodies a pivot formed integral with the stile plate or to an end of the bracket arm and which is punched from the material forming the stile plate or bracket arm. Accordingly with the construction described no pivot pin is required to be riveted or otherwise aflixed to one of the pivoted elements to extend through an aperture in the other element.

A feature of the present invention resides in punching a circular rim or bead from the body of one of the relatively pivoted elements to form a pivot extending into an aperture in the remaining pivoted element. A latch or arm is then provided which prevents disengagement of this ring or bead from its aperture.

These and other objects andnovel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawing forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a window frame, a window pivotally secured thereto, and a window bracket connecting the frame and the pivoted window.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the bracket in closed position thereof.

Figure 3 is a front elevational View showin the bracket illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing.

Figure 4 is a detailed view showing the pivotal connection between the two arms forming the bracket.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view through the pivots connecting the ends of the bracket arms to their respective stile plates, the position of the section being indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a sectional view through the bracket arms, the position of the section being indicated by the line 6-6 of Figure 3.

The bracket A is used for attaching the window B to its frame C. The frame C is provided with a stop l0 against which the inner surface of the window B may engage. This stop IE] is provided with a stile plate I l constructed as best illustrated in Figures 1, 3, and 5 of the drawing. The stile plate II is provided with flat ends I? having apertures therethrough through which may be extended attached screws l3. The central portion of the stile plate II is outwardly cupped intermediate its ends so as to provide an off-set surface l4, best illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing. This off-set surface is provided. to space the bracket arms from the window frame A pair of bracket arms l5 and it 3 are pivotally connected by means of a pivot bolt H. An arm I9 is provided with an aperture therethrough through which the pivot bolt extends, and this arm I9 is provided with a projecting ear 20 extending through a slot 2| in the projecting end 22 ofthe arm Hi. In other words, the arm l9 and the end 22 of the arm l8 project beyond the end of the arm l and are secured from relative rotation by, the ear or lip 23 which is bent to extend through the-slot 2| in the end 22. provided on the pivot bolt I? between the arms l5 and I6, and the tension resisting pivotal move-i ment between the arms l5 and I6 is adjusted by means of an adjusting nut 24 of the pivot bolt l1.

A friction washer 23 may be to hold the arm I6 assembled to the bracket 33,

"the head 3| of the arm l6 extends on one side of the flange 35, while the arm 4| extends over the opposite surface thereof. Likewise, while the engaged'therefrom until thearm 4| is pivoted The bolt IT is arranged to rotate in unison with the arm l9 and the arm I6 so that the arm i5 is frictionally engaged between the arm 19 and the friction washer'23. A friction'washer may also be provided between the arm l9 and the arm l5 if it is so desired. As the bolt |1 does not rotate relative to the arm Hi there is no tendency for the nut during use.

The remaining end of the arm I5 is slightly enlarged to provide a friction head 25, and this head 25 is connected by means of a rivet 26 or other suitable means, to the dished portion |4 1 tion 46 designed to receive the ear 45.

of the stile plate II. The rivet 26 extends through the off-set or dished surface I4, through a friction washer 28, and through the enlarged head 25, being pivotally connected by the washer 28 to the stile plate ll. The arm I5 is provided with a flange 2'| extending the greater portion of the lengththere of. This flange 21 is curved to partially follow the curvature. of the enlarged head 25,- as illustrated at 29. The other end 30 of' the flange 21 is also curved outwardly, as best illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawing. This curvature of the ends of the flange 21 is of considerable importance as it adds very materially to the rigidity of the arm |5. been made in which a right angular flange extends a portion of the length of the arm, but is cut off square at its ends and is flat throughout its entire length. The present construction has been proven-much more rigid and lessapt to bend under strain.

The arm I6 is provided with an enlarged head end 3| having an aperture 32 therein. A right angular bracket 33 is provided having a base flange 34 and a right angularly extending flange 35 projecting normally from the sash 36 of the window B. The flange 34 of the bracket 33 is provided with apertures 31 therethrough to accommodate screws 39 or other fastening means by which the bracket is attached to the sash 35. The flange 35 of the bracket 33 is provided with an integral sleeve 40 thereon which is formed by punching out a portion of the material forming the flange 35 and bending it in such a manner as to form a substantially cylindrical sleeve projecting from one surface of the flange 35. This sleeve 40 is designed to form a pivotal connection between the bracket 33 and the arm Hi, this sleeve extending through the aperture 3 in the head end 3| of the arm I6.

In order to hold the arm IS in pivotal relation with the bracket 33 I provide an arm 4| which is pivoted to the arm H3 at 42. One end. of the arm 4| is provided with a detent 43. arranged to extend into the open end of the sleeve 40. Thus when the arm 4| is in proper position arm'lB about the pivot 42.

24 to become disengaged Other constructions have previously 4 about its pivot 42 until it is entirely clear of the flange 35;

, As best illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawin the arm 4] is bent so as to lie closely adjacent the The arm 4| is also provided with an inwardly bowed portion 44 designed to engage frictionally against the surface of the arm IS. The end of the arm 4| in which the detent 43 is situated is oiT-set from the arm l6 sufficiently to permit the flange 35 to be resiliently clamped between the detent 43 and the head 3| of the arm l5.

An ear 45 is bent from the material forming the arm |5 so as to extend toward the arm H5. The arm I6 is provided with a cam-shaped por- The ear 45 insures the fact that the arms l5 and I5 are spread apart at their ends thereof pivotally connected to the window frame and the window, respectively. This engagement between the car 45 and the arm l6 serves in a multiple capacity. In the first place this ear tends to spread the arms apart upon closing of the fastener, thereby putting the parts under some tension and preventing any rattle between the various elements. In the second place, this ear45 tends to spread the free ends of the fastener apart before the stile plate H and the bracket 33 are connected to thewindow frame and the window sash respectively. This spacing is important as it provents bending between the elements in the event the window and window sash expand or swell to some extent in wet weather.

The window fastener is'sometimes applied in damp weather and sometimes applied during dry weather. If the fastener A is applied during damp weather, the contraction of the window and frame during dry weather merely acts to spread the enlarged ends 25 and 3| of the arms I5 and I6 somewhat farther apart when the fastener is closed. However, if the fastener is applied during dry weather, the swelling of the window'sash tends to move the bracket 33 toward the window frame and the swelling of the window frame C tends to move the stile plate I| toward the center of the window. As a result, unless the arms l5 and I6 are'spread apart to some extent during installation, these parts will bind tightly together during wet weather and interfere with the proper operation of the fastener. The present fastener insures the necessary separation between the ends of the arms l5 and I6 by engagement of the ear 45 against the arm I6. The'cam portion 46 merely directs the ear 45 up onto the surface of the arm |6.'

The operation of the fastener A is believed obvious from the foregoing description. 'I'he construction at the center pivot I1 is such as to provide considerable friction between the arms. Obviously the arms |5 and I6 are prevented from moving into longitudinal alignment by" the ear 20 which engages against an edge of the arm l5 in extreme pivotal position between the arms as shown in Figure 1. When in closed position the arms l5 and I6 move into substantially parallel relationship as shown in Figures 2 and 3., and due to the fact that the pivots 26 and 40 are moved into alignment by the closing of the window B, both arms l5 and 16 may be swung about their respective pivots through an angular distance of 180 from the position shown in Figures 2 and 3. By so pivoting the arms I5 and 16 the window is locked in closed position due to the engagement of the flanges on their respective arms. I

The arm I6 is shown provided with a flange which extends the major portion of the length thereof and whichis curved at each end as best shown in Figures 1 and 4 of the drawing. As a result the arm i6 is reinforced and will not bend to any great extent under normal stresses to which the arm is subjected.

In accordance with the patent statutes, 1 have described the principles of construction and operation of my window fastener, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A storm window bracket for use in connecting a pivotally supported window to its frame, the bracket including a pair of arms pivotally connected together, means connecting one of said arms to said window frame, means connecting the other of said arms to the window, said arms being arranged in substantially parallel relationship, substantially centrally apertured enlarged ends on said arms, a flange extending longitudinally of each of said arms and arranged to lie in parallel relationship when said arms are pivoted into parallel relationship, said flanges extending substantially on a line between said apertures and including outwardly curved end portions extending out of the plane of the remainder of the flanges.

2. A window bracket comprising a pair of pivotally connected arms, said arms extending in substantially parallel relationship when pivoted into side by side relation, an enlarged substantially centrally apertured head on each end of each of said arms, a flange extending at substantially right angles to each of said arms and extending substantially on a line between said apertures, said flange being outwardly curved at its ends to extend partially around said enlarged heads.

3. A window bracket comprising a pair of terminally apertured pivotally connected arms designed to lie in substantially parallel relation when pivoted into side by side relation, a flange extending at substantially right angles to each of said arms throughout the major portion of the length thereof and extending substantially on a line between said apertures, said flanges having outwardly curved ends connected to said arms, said curved ends being bent out of the plane of the remaining portions of said flanges.

BERT A. QUINN. 

